The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-18
CRUSHED BETWEEN CARS.
CRIMINAL CARELESsNEss CAUSES
AN APPALLING ACCIDENT.
Patrick Haney Mashed Into Pulp Be-
tween an Engine and Freight Car in
the Navy Yard-Narrow Escape OF
Two Other Men-Stiil Another.


the Navy Yard-Narrow Escape OF
Two Other Men-Still Another.
Another fatal accident was last night
added to the long list, which have occurred
with such horrible frequency in the old
navy yard since ii has been turned into a
general switching yard for several OF the
main railroad lines which run through the
city. Bnt nonc in its history can exceed
the revolving and narrowing casualty OF
last night. About s o'clock Engineer
Swanson was running engine No. 50o, OF
the Newport News Il Mississippi Valley
road, on the main track, when almost OPP
positc compress No. |, with three switch
men, Charles c. kurty, T. J. Featherstone
and Patrick llaney, seated on the bob-tail
cowcatchcr Of the engine, he ran into a
heavily loaded lumber car belong
inc 10 the Kansas City road. This
was the first OF n long line OF loaded
ireights made up iron different roads, aud
transferred 10 the Newport News & Missis-
sippi Valley 10 10 hauled TO Paducah and
other points. The engine was moving
swiftly, needless and ignorant that there
was any obstruction on the track. The
engine telescopcd into the freight car.
Featherstone saw the danger, and with a
fpring fell safe from the engine on 10 an
other track. Kurtz, who SIT on the left,
attempted to do the same, but was not
quick enough and rs he fell his right leg
was caught between the cars and broken
about four inches above the knee, and
pinioned him there, and he could not
escape from the sudden crash, but with
terrific force. ~ the engine surgcd against
the pondorous ear, he was mashed 10
death. II seemed from the hall upright
position in which the poor victim stood
that hc was In the act Of rising when
he was caught, for his head was literally
mashed into pulp and every bone in the
upper part u his body fractured into
%kplintcrs.
So great was the fncc, and the resist
nnce which met IL, that the front OF the
boiler wng smashed in and several vi the
heavy iron bars broken 10 pieces.
The crash almost knocked the engineer
and fireman from their positions, and
quickly, in response Ia the cries Of kurtz
and Feathcrstonc, who gave the alarm,
they jumped from the engine. kurtz,
Who was pinioned against the ear, could
not he cxtricated until a jack-screw could
be procured and the car raised. Then
the workmcn saw llancy with his brains
scattered over the scothing boiler. He
had been killed instantly. II was impos.
sible 10 take him out until machinery
could be had from the shops with which
10 raise the fright car under which the
heavy ioot-board Of the engine had been
run. Fully an hour was consumed before
this was done.
The terrible calamity, rs far as could be
learned, was the result OF criminal care.
l~cssness on the part Of the yarlmastcr Of
the Memphis 4 Little Rock rad. The
ears had been made up, 1t seems, princi-
pally by that road and should have been
on q side-tmck, but even II they were on
the main track, Il Was his duty TO inform
the engineer M he started his engine
where the cans were, especially as there is
not a light OF any kind, save that
from lanterns and the engines In
the yard. hut he did not
do this. Besides, there was q Memphis X
Little Rock engine on a side track, stand.
ing right at the point oi the accident, ant
Engineer Swanson claims that tw ligh
.frum tiHt engine, together with the smoke
blinded him and, especially, the switch
men on his engine, and IL was impossible
for them 10 have seen the ears, even u
they bad been looking out Tor them
Swanson insists that no hal no idea th,
cars were on thcmain truck, AMI that the,
had no business there at that time. III,
yardmastcr Of the Memphis & Liiil'
Rock road is named Richardson
Drnunciaiions OF him by th,
switchmcn was very bitter, and Il was rc
ported that be had left the yard prccipii
nicly whom he learned OF the accident
Squire harry was sent for and held the 10
quest. even while llancy was held b,
tween the Cars. Tie jury returned ti
following verdict: Patrick llancy cam
81 bis death by being mashed between d
engine AMI fright ear pm the Ncwpol
Ncws& Mississippi Valley milrad, throug
The carglrssnc-- ~ thu company not motif.
ing the engineer that the ears were q
that track
Tho ihtcc sWiichmcn boarded NJ n
Millarl house. No. ~ Main street. u
Thornton, physician 81 the ruad, n~ronl
ell promptly. anil had kuru taken o. u
rpom, WhCrc his wounds Woc proper
looked after. lie il about twenty-five sea
oil. and his home no lsNiugton, Nv
whom his father and SISTER rasilc. Tie vi
~ NNA " NN. NNNNNNN A' NNNN ANfNNN
llIuyy has only been here a few month
Hud DO Uuo knew whcrc hc came irnl
bot irum O -gmp i old paper found Ia !
pocket. un Which was written, "ka
liancy. No. Tp liiunan street. Chicago. p
ishk,Iy that Its !. his home. Mhctl
Kate llanpy j. w. sister or mother. no o
know. lie Ns aioHt ,luTy two years 81
and unmarried. Dr.. Thornton al-1 ~
llaurS b body taken Chmrr ut hy tho 20
ccIs II thr mad. n WIS horrible lr.
ior o. man 10 meet. aud thc opinion tha
Wa from the most ttolid u-drJlceu,,.
general.
sam Another Victim.
lasi night Was certainly a fatal one
t%viichmon, Cor before Squire Barry
returned from holding the inquest q
Tat llancy. squire Buiiouhcw was NJ
mnncl to The Kansas City yards ~ v
the crushed remains Il Sam RnoWn. ,
had hecn run over while In the dlsrha
II his duty. Il WIS at tle corner